Vol. 27 No. 4 (2024) Cover Image
Vol. 27 No. 4 (2024)

Published: December 31, 2024

Pages: 441-449

Articles

Preparation and Characterization of Biochar from New Precursor

Douha S. Khudair 1 Yasser I. Abdul-Aziz 1
1 Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Al-Nahrain, Baghdad - Iraq.
History
  • Received: May 29, 2024
  • Revised: August 23, 2024
  • Accepted: September 7, 2024
  • Available Online: December 20, 2024
DOI

https://doi.org/10.29194/NJES.27040441

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential of biochar derived from Peganum harmala (Pgh) seeds as an adsorbent material for wastewater treatment. Biochar is a cost-efficient, ecologically friendly, and effective bio-sorbent for a wide range of pollutants in wastewater. Researchers are investigating the production of biochar from novel biomass sources. Phosphoric acid (H3PO4) was utilized in a chemical activation technique to produce biochar at various concentrations (20%, 30%, and 40%). The pyrolysis process lasted three hours at 600°C in a tube furnace with an inert nitrogen gas atmosphere. Elemental analysis, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) nitrogen adsorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), The biochar was characterized using several techniques, including elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) nitrogen adsorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The findings demonstrate the significant potential of Pgh seed-derived biochar as an inexpensive and ecologically acceptable sorbent material. A large surface area (691.58 m2g−1) was achieved at 600◦C for three hours with 40% H3PO4 activation. 

Keywords

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